RCMP knocked, announced their presence -- then blared a police siren

VANCOUVER -- Police made sure they were both seen and heard before battering their way into a million-dollar Surrey residence that housed a 1,600-plant grow-op this week.

RCMP knocked, announced their presence -- then blared a police siren.

The tactic was in reaction to a B.C. Supreme Court ruling this month in which the judge criticized police for not giving enough warning to a pot grower before breaking down his door. ?????

Justice Catherine Bruce dismissed the charges against Van Dung Cao -- found with 700 pot plants -- because police waited only two minutes after knocking before using a battering ram on his side door.

The ruling left police flabbergasted and wondering what more they need to do when executing a search warrant on suspected drug houses.

So this week, they arrived in a marked police car, knocked and announced their arrival, then turned on the police siren before entering. The loud warning seemed to alert the residents, said RCMP Sgt. Roger Morrow.

The occupants, two Asian males and one woman, were found hiding in the attic, having pulled a step ladder up behind them after accessing a hole in the ceiling."

VANCOUVER -- Police made sure they were both seen and heard before battering their way into a million-dollar Surrey residence that housed a 1,600-plant grow-op this week.

RCMP knocked, announced their presence -- then blared a police siren.

The tactic was in reaction to a B.C. Supreme Court ruling this month in which the judge criticized police for not giving enough warning to a pot grower before breaking down his door. ?????

Justice Catherine Bruce dismissed the charges against Van Dung Cao -- found with 700 pot plants -- because police waited only two minutes after knocking before using a battering ram on his side door.

The ruling left police flabbergasted and wondering what more they need to do when executing a search warrant on suspected drug houses.

So this week, they arrived in a marked police car, knocked and announced their arrival, then turned on the police siren before entering. The loud warning seemed to alert the residents, said RCMP Sgt. Roger Morrow.

The occupants, two Asian males and one woman, were found hiding in the attic, having pulled a step ladder up behind them after accessing a hole in the ceiling."

No joke, that is exactly what will happen. Maybe once enough die they will reverse that ruling. I'm sorry for the guys this law affects, there jobs are dangerous enough when the bad guys don't know their coming now they have plenty of warning to load up.

Mal, Do you know if Canada or its Provinces allow for a "no knock" warrant?

Basically, when the police request the warrant they also ask permission to make an unannouncned entry. This is used a lot in suspected drug houses, grow operations etc where announcing police presence could allow for escape, destruction of evidence or undue risk to officers serving the warrant. The state of Wisconsin allows it and I would guess most other US states do as well, just curious. Thanks!!

No prob....since you are the closest thing I have to an expert on Canada I figured I'd try you.........Otherwise, if the no-knock option is available I can foresee an increase in requests for them in light of the decision regarding how they must handle a normal warrant. It will be interesting to see if this gets challenged and how that will all play out.

Called my old man after reading this post to get his opinion on this. He's a Cpl. in the RCMP....

The case noted in the original post is currently under appeal.

The RCMP do have "No-Knock" search warrants. They have to justify the no-knock by means of risk to officer safety...beyond reasonable doubt.

No-knock search warrants don't happen often, especially in warrant searches where there is not solid evidence that there is considerable risk to officer safety and well being.

(which in my opinion...every search warrant is a considerable risk to officer safety). However, unfortunately the judges in these parts don't see it that way.

Makes a tough job tougher.

Thanks for the info...sounds like the Canadian standards for a no knock are a little more stringent. In the US, at least in Wisconsin all you need is reasonable suspicion that evidence could be lost, suspects escape or the risk to LEO's is great. I was a cop for a year or so and from what I recall the judges seemed to be pretty generous with the no knocks so long as you had your ducks in a row to prove the need for it. I

I also agree that any warrant could possess a big risk to officer safety...that is why waiting over two minutes is unreasonable. It gives the opportunity to escape or destroy evidence at best and at worst...well others have touched on that. When the cops have already proven the need for a search/arrest warrant they already have legal permission to search the premisis to look for the person/objects listed in the warrants. The knock and announce is just that, the cops knock, identify themselves, give a reasonable amount of time for any response (which should be a matter of seconds and not minutes) and force entry if none is given.